Earth Hour 2012: Will You Turn Off The Lights?

At 8:30 PM Saturday, some of the world's most famous landmarks will go dark for Earth Hour 2012. From the Empire State Building to the Great Wall of China, non-essential lighting will be turned off at important locations around the globe.

Earth Hour, a global initiative led by World Wildlife Fund, encourages individuals around the world to shut off their lights on Saturday March 31 for one hour, beginning at 8:30 PM in each time zone.

Andy Ridley, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Earth Hour, said in a press release, “In 2012, Earth Hour is reaching further and wider than ever before and these landmarks will provide a visually spectacular reminder of what can be done when individuals, organisations and governments act together.

In addition to buildings, landmarks and individuals, the International Space Station will also participate in Earth Hour, as its crew watches the world's lights dim from above.

Even the National Hockey League will be taking part in Earth Hour. All 30 NHL teams have pledged to dim the lights on Saturday, including the 20 clubs that will be on the ice that evening. Bernadette Mansur, SVP of NHL Green, said in a press release, "For the NHL, the success of this event is about more than turning the lights off for one hour. It is about changing the way our sport approaches energy consumption."

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Turn Off Appliances When Not In Use

Explain to children that lights, televisions and computers use energy, which is in short supply. This is a simple way to reduce wasted energy and carbon. If you turn off just one appliance, you could save 99 pounds (or 45 kgs) of greenhouse gas! Ask you child if he/she can imagine what 99 pounds looks like and show some examples, such as 20 five pound bags (or 20 two and a half kg bags) of potatoes!
Flickr image courtesy of qmnonic